Mary,

You can position them horizontally about 1-2 inches deep. I would not recommend you place the pot outside until the risk of a hard freeze is past, unless it is a big container (>2 gallon). I have found the roots are easily killed by sudden hard freezes in a small pot.

kiwinut,

Thank you so much for your help. I've planted them as you suggested. Do you think these pieces of roots, without eyes or little stems, will actually put up shoots? I expected to see something other than just a piece of underground root but they were all the same, without any indication of shoots.

Mary

May I ask where you got them from? I saw at Lowes today a large potted passionvine labelled Purple Passionvine (Yeah, right, like there's only one!). Then it had Passiflora Incarnate on it but the flower was nothing like the flowers on the Maypops I had and what I thought was Incarnata. These flowers were shaped more like the Careula I have and the color of the petals was more pink-purple than the lavendar on my Maypops. The leaves were similiar but not identical. Now I wonder if I order one if it will be what I want. I know, Lowes and big box stores are notorious for mislabelled plants.

I bought them at Viola Valley Wildflowers on line.

I don't know if they will actually grow into Maypop vines, as the roots didn't appear to have an eye or anything resembling a shoot. They looked to me to be a very small root that had been laid out and cut into 3-6 inch lengths. Now, this may well be a way of propagating this vine; I just don't know as it is a new vine for me.

If these roots grow sprouts, I'll be happy to send you one or two, as I won't need this many Maypops. I only ordered them as I was ordering bare root Virginia Bluebells and the shipping was the same for two groupings as for one grouping of bare roots. The Virigina Bluebells did have little eyes or shoots on the pieces of roots so I have faith they will grow into plants.

It will be an interesting experiment for the Maypop roots, since the seed are so darn difficult to germinate. If we find out a tiny little piece of root will grow a vine, it will be helpful to everyone who wishes to grow Maypops. Probably won't know the outcome until May but I will come back and let everyone know the results.

Are you planning on growing it in a container? I'm a bit nervous about it's wandering tendencies so it's going to live in a very big pot at my house. :-)

Mary

Here is a link that might be useful: Viola Valley Wildflowers Nursery

Thanks! No, I need it for my Zebra Longwings so the more I have the better. If it is what we call "Maypops" here, it is invasive. It grew under our pool deck and came up inside it! However, it also dies out in our mild winters so when it comes back in the spring - it comes up about 5-10 feet away from where it was originally. I lost mine to a virus of some kind. My caterpillars would just turn to mush and so I had to destroy it. Haven't had it in a couple of years now. Tried Incense, which is also a good host for Gulf Frits but the ZLWs didn't like it, go figure. Plus its even more invasive!

I have Careula, Ameythst, and Suberosa. Gulf Frits use the Suberosa but the other two see little host plant use.
I have started them as you said by taking cuttings that grow underground. Its hit and miss, and lots of luck, it seems.

Do let me know if yours comes up. I am thinking about ordering from Mail Order Natives. Shes in north Florida and says she has them growing. I'm just hoping its the right one.

I've seen "Incense" often labeled as "purple passion vine" and even "maypop" at Lowes. A few days ago I was in the local store and saw they had a bunch labeled "Lavender Lady." Amazingly enough, these were indeed the classic Amethyst hybrids.

But yeah, Lowes and other big box stores are a crap shoot. I've seen Belotti and vitifolia there on occasion as well, but the only real way to be sure what you're getting is to check for blooms.

Lowes did have one TODAY labelled Purple Passionvine, Incarnata (did not say Maypops). The leaves were very dark green, 3 lobed, and were bigger like Maypops but the flower bud was huge and the flower was more like the Careula in shape. The petals were a pinky purple and the centers "filaments" (don't know what they are called) were straight, not frilly like my Maypops. They also looked to have been sprayed so I didn't get it. They also had Lady Margaret.

Mary,

Yes, those little pieces of root will push out new shoots, they may just take a while. Root cuttings 3-6" long are the best way to propagate maypops, since they don't root well from cuttings.

kiwinut,

You have just made my day! Thank you so much for this reassurance.

Mary

I've planted roots of P. incense which is very similar grow just fine and I've bought (not passiflora but other tubers/roots) from Viola Valley a number of times with no problems.

If you plant the maypop roots 2-3 inches deep and water occasionally, they should do well. Beware the urge to over-water. Soggy soil will drown the roots and kill them. Moist is fine. Wet is not.

Once they're established in a couple of months, you probably won't ever have to water if you're planting them outside. They're pretty hardy plants.

I ordered those same plants and when I recieved them I was disheartened as I didn't think the root pieces would send up new plants... Have had them planted since late dec and no signs of life yet, I'm going to dig them up as they are in a huge pot to check for signs of life and plant horizontal. Sad day u figured I would have seen life by now

Well you'll b excited to know that I dug them up and one of the 5 has put up a small shoot and with time I think they will put up moRe shoots, I'm in ca

xvxmichellexvx,

Thank you so much for sharing this information with us. We're all learning something new about this plant and to know the root pieces are actually putting up shoots, well, I'm thrilled for you.

I keep looking at mine but nothing yet other than a couple of what look like little root pieces sticking up out of the soil. I haven't bothered them (hard not to pull on them!) and don't know why the root tips have raised up out of the soil. They actually look like little roots, not anything like what I'd expect would be a shoot. I planted the ten roots horizontally about 1.5 to 2 inches below the soil surface. I'll continue to watch them and will let you know if I see any growth. I'm certainly much more hopeful now.

Mary

Mary are you sure the roots just aren't getting uncovered? Anything above the soil should be a greenish color, not brown. I'm in 7a and my P. incarnatas don't come up until the nighttime temps warm up, late May, early June and if we've had a particularly cold winter they come up even later.

karyn1,

yes, this is my guess, that it is roots raising out of the soil. I'm not certain why they would do this but I'm not going to bother them. I planted ten bare root pieces so there should still be plenty of roots underneath the soil. I'm hoping to see sprouts some day from at least one of the still buried roots. :-) I have read the ground must be quite warm before Maypop sprouts so will try to be patient. I have them planted in a long above ground planter and use a cover on them. During sunny days, I prop up or pull back the cover so the soil doesn't get too hot. I'm thinking this will work something like a cold frame.

My initial worry was that the roots I received had no eyes or shoots showing. Apparently this is a common way to propagate this vine. I love this site as I learn so much from all of you!

Mary

Keep in mind I put mine in big 5 gal pot all vertically thinking it would make a new eye... In December. It's now almost April and I just see one shoot since I pulled them up they are now laying horizontal ... I'm sure growth is from the warm weather I've been having

Just wanted to stop by and say that I'm still waiting on my Maypop roots to pop up! :-)

We're expected to have nights in the mid 60's next week so maybe with the night temps rising, I'll finally see something from these root cuttings. I have so many seeds and roots planted, I may be overrun one day with Maypop vines but for now, not one single bit of green from anything.

Mary